Hickory Run State Park filed a plan with the Carbon County Planning Commission on Oct. 18 seeking review of its NPDES permit application for a new visitors center.

The commission found the application to be consistent with the county's comprehensive plan."This is just the first step of many in a long process," said Park Manager Dave Madl. "You would love to see this happen right away, but this will take at least two to three years to complete."According to the filing, the planned visitors center will be located on Family Camp Road, near the intersection with Route 534.The building will be "13,000 square feet and will include office space and a visitors center with all required associated parking, utilities and stormwater management."Madl said the new building will also house a large exhibit hall and a classroom which will hold close to 100 people. There will also be a restroom, and it will contain the campground registration as well."This should be a really nice public facility, something that the area can be proud of," Madl said. "We will be able to share our history and show off our natural resources. Our classroom will serve as an outreach with educational programing."There will be a lot more opportunities for school groups and the general public as well."